​Has there been meaningful progress for all students with Down syndrome since IDEA was established? Why does inclusion work in some districts and not others? What can you do when your district does not believe in inclusion?

This is an interactive session where the audience and presenters can share real life experiences and hear different strategies to build on positive experiences and improve disappointing outcomes.

Sue Swenson:

Ron Hager: Parents experiences:

Date:Location:Time:

Deputy Asst Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services, US Dept of Education (Obama Administration) and President, Inclusion InternationalManaging Attorney, National Disability Right NetworkBret Bowerman and Jessamy Tang

RSVP REQUIRED - Email name (on govt ID) to info@thematthewfoundation.org by 5pm on Monday, March 18, 2019. UN Grounds Passes Required. We can submit names to UN Security until Monday. UN Security reserved the right to check government IDs to ensure they match the names on the UN Grounds Pass.

The Matthew Foundation has been formed to improve the quality of life for persons with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities over their entire life span. We are taking a multi-prong approach to address different challenges that persons with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities face. We can IMAGINE what it will be like to live in a society that welcomes all people with developmental disabilities and hope you will join us in making it a reality. Please see our video below.

We support RESEARCH & CARE. Long term, we hope to see Centers of Excellence for Down syndrome research and care around the world. Short term, we established an endowed fund and an expendable fund for Down syndrome research at Stanford University. We are also Founding Supporters of the global Trisomy 21 Research Society.

We support INCLUSIONthrough sports and other areas. We are organizing Super Fest to allow youth and young adults with Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, and their peers to participate in a real football clinic, cheerleading clinic, and Fan Fest experience. This event will be held in the same city and same weekend as the Super Bowl and allow youth and young adults within this community to enjoy the excitement in a welcoming, sensory appropriate environment. We are also signors to Commit to Inclusionwhich is an outcome of the Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) Task Force on Physical Activity and Sport

We support EMPLOYMENT as a means to independence and self confidence. We encourage private and public sector employment initiatives for individuals with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities and are collaborating with National Down Syndrome Society on employment initiative.

We have received statewide recognition and have established national and global relationships in our efforts to support the Down syndrome community. We have been acknowledged by the New York State Senate when they passed the resolution to recognize Down Syndrome Awareness Day on March 21.